When you hear the names Everly and Lydia Livingston, you probably think of the ice first. The flashes of sequins, the sharp scrape of blades on a fresh sheet of rink, and the social media videos that made them stars in the figure skating world under their handle, @ice_skating_sisters. They were young, talented, and seemingly had the world at their feet until the tragedy of American Airlines Flight 5342 changed everything.
But behind every viral video and every gold medal performance was a foundation built by two people who lived entirely for their daughters. Honestly, if you want to understand who these girls were, you have to look at Everly and Lydia Livingston parents, Peter and Donna. They weren't just "skating parents" in the stereotypical, high-pressure sense. They were the architects of a very specific kind of dream.
Who Were Peter and Donna Livingston?
Peter and Donna Livingston weren't celebrities in the traditional sense, but in their community of Sterling, Virginia, they were a powerhouse of support.
Peter was a realtor, a guy known for being a "lifelong buddy" to his friends and a man who didn't just talk about doing things—he actually did them. His friend Ted Boyke once described him as the kind of person who would come up with a wild plan that everyone thought was impossible, and then he’d just go out and make it happen.
Donna was the heart of the operation. She was deeply involved in the girls’ daily lives, managing the grueling schedule that comes with competitive figure skating while also homeschooling them. Think about that for a second. Homeschooling two competitive athletes isn't just about textbooks; it’s about being a teacher, a coach, a nutritionist, and a travel agent all at once.
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They met back in 2006 and tied the knot in Jamaica in November 2009. By the time Everly Pearl was born in 2010 and Alydia Steele (often called Lydia or Liddy) followed in 2013, the Livingston family was a tight-knit unit of four.
The Backyard Rink and the "Family First" Philosophy
One of the coolest things about Peter Livingston was his commitment to his daughters' passion. When Everly was just a baby, Peter already had a plan. He told his friends he was going to build an ice rink in the backyard.
And he did.
Every winter in Virginia, Peter would lay down a tarp, board it off, and pour water to create a private skating oasis. During the COVID-19 lockdowns, when the world shut down and the professional rinks were dark, the Livingston girls were still out there. They were practicing their jumps and spins in their own backyard because their dad wanted to make sure they didn't lose their momentum.
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That’s the kind of dad he was. He actually started teaching them to skate hoping they’d get into hockey—he was an avid hockey player himself— लेकिन once they fell in love with figure skating, he pivoted completely. He molded his entire life to enable their ambitions.
A Typical Day for the Livingstons
- Early Mornings: Often at the Ashburn Ice House for training sessions.
- Education: Homeschooling sessions squeezed between practice and travel.
- Support: Donna filming routines for social media to build the @ice_skating_sisters brand.
- Evenings: Peter balancing real estate deals with backyard rink maintenance.
The Tragic Events of January 2025
The family was returning from a figure skating event in Wichita, Kansas, in late January 2025. They were on American Airlines Flight 5342, heading back home to Virginia. It was a trip they had made many times before, part of the standard circuit for young Olympic hopefuls.
Just 30 minutes before boarding, Peter sent a text to a friend. It was just a normal check-in. Donna took a selfie of her and Peter in their seats, and another of the girls, Everly (14) and Alydia (11), smiling and ready for the flight. Those photos, shared later by family friend Jin Ah Longerbeam, remain a haunting reminder of how normal that day felt.
The plane collided mid-air with a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter near Washington, D.C. There were no survivors. The loss didn't just take two rising stars of the skating world; it took a whole family that had become a fixture of the Washington Figure Skating Club.
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The Legacy They Left Behind
It’s easy to focus on the tragedy, but the skating community prefers to look at the "Livingston way." Peter and Donna didn't just provide financial support; they provided a presence.
Their coach, Inna Volyanskaya, who also tragically passed away in the crash, had worked closely with the family. The bond between the parents, the girls, and their coaching staff was more like an extended family.
The Livingstons’ story resonates because it’s the ultimate example of parental devotion. They weren't trying to live vicariously through their kids. They were simply doing everything in their power to make sure their children could chase a dream that most people find too difficult or too expensive to pursue.
Practical Lessons from the Livingston Family
- Invest in the Environment: If your kid has a passion, find a way to make it accessible at home. Peter’s backyard rink is a legendary example of this.
- Be a Team: Donna and Peter functioned as a unit. One handled the logistics and education; the other handled the physical infrastructure and encouragement.
- Capture the Moments: Donna’s social media presence for the girls wasn't just about "clout." It created a digital scrapbook of their journey that now serves as a memorial to their hard work.
If you are looking to support the skating community or want to honor the memory of the Livingston family, consider donating to local youth skating programs or the Washington Figure Skating Club. These organizations often have funds set up to help young athletes who have the talent but lack the resources—the very thing Peter and Donna worked so hard to provide for Everly and Lydia.